Enclosure for treating web material



J. DUNGLR ENCLOSURE FOR TREATING WEB MATERIAL March 17, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 50. 1955 a p /7//////////// /x//x/ /V l/V Iv EA/I/'E J 04 /E/l 204614 7: 31' 4 2 mu l 5 J. DUNGLER ENCLOSURE FOR TREATING WEB MATERIAL March 17, 1959 2,8 7 7,636

Filed March 30, '1955 4 Spets-Sheet 2 March 1959 J. DUNGLER 2,877, 636

ENCLOSURE FOR TREATING WEB MATERIAL Filed March 50, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 ZN'EMTDR; Ju; I VJU ENCLOSURE FOR TREATING WEB MATERIAL' Filed March 30, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 'v VEA/TOIY JUA/E/l/ .90467176 United States Pateftit ENCLOSURE FOR TREATING WEB MATERIAL Julien Dungler, Basel, Switzerland Application March 30, 1955, Serial No. 498,020 Claims priority, application France April 9, 1954 7 Clams. c. 68-5) This invention relates to an apparatus for the treatment of lengthy web materials, such as fabrics and the like.

Many processes for the thermal treatment of textile fabrics require a relatively long time consumng treatment.

Furthermore, there is a trend to elfectuate various operations in a contnuous manner and at full width of the fabric. Among these thermal treatments, may be cited the steaming of the fabrics after dyeing or printing,

polymerisation, carbonizng of wool, desizing, boiling,

bleachng, and so on.

Various kinds of enclosures are already known, for instance the hot-flues and the vertically undulated course enclosures or loop driers. However, these devices are bulky, they require either a complicated mechanism or a great number of rolls and they are liable to cause the fabric to get crumpled while being treated. Another known process used for steaming dyed fabrics consists in reeling the fabric on rolls in a steaming chamber. However, this process cannot be considered as Operating in a contnuous manner because, when the fabric roll has reached its maximum diameter, it should be changed and taken out of the chamber.

Hence, there occurs an air ingress which is detrimental to resuming the treatment immediately.

' The object of the present inventon is to remove the drawbacks of the known devicesand to provide a treating enclosure adapted to receive, in a contnuous manner,

a great length of fabric within a small Volume.

'Another object of the invention is to provide means 'aifording a treating enclosure of the above character in which the length of fabric contained therein may be varied at will.

For this purpose, the enclosure according to the invention is characterized in that the number and arrangement of the rolls are such that the web material may be run several times over the whole series of rolls, each time forming on some predetermined rolls outer layers on top of layers previously formed and, on other rolls,

inner layers under layers previously formed, and that the sum of the lengths embraced by the web material I over the individual rolls on which it forms layers on top According to another feature of the invention, the

' arrangement of the rolls is adapted for the web to pass around the successive rolls alternately forming anupper i outer layer and an under inner layer.

The enclosure may also comprise accesory elements, J

for instance for heating, distributing a treating medium, etc.

Other and further objects and advantages of theiinvention will be apparent to those skilled in the art, from a consideration of the following description of a few embodiments of the invention, shown by way of example, in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a section of an enclosure embodying the invention,

Fig. 2 shows, on a larger sc'ale, two consecutive 'rolls of this enclosure illustrating the principle of the invention. e

Fig. 3 represents the enclosure in connection with a dyeing installation, e

Fig. 3a shows an alte'rnate strncture'for depositing the fabric leaving the enclosure of Fig. 3, 4

Fig. 4 is a view similar to that'oflFig. l, and shows a modification in the arrangement of the rollsyand Fig.'S shows, quite diagrammatically, another modification of the arrangement of the rolls; v

The enclosure 1 illustrated in Fig. 1, comprisesa first set of outer deviation and accumulation rolls 2, 3, 4,-5, lines joining the axes of which form an outerpolygon 'and a second set of inner deviation and accumulation rolls 6, 7, 8, 9, the outer peripheral tangents of which form an inner polygon. The rolls have all the same diameter and rotate at the same speed and. their .axes are parallel with one another.

The fabric 10 entering the enclosure through a.slot (not shown), passes on a bar 11 within the inner polygon oriented substantially atright angles with respect to the axes of the rolls 2 to 9, and then on a bar 12 within the inner polygon oriented substantially parallel with .said axes. The fabric, which has just been brought into suitable position with respect to the rolls reaches, while travelling along a path of feed in the direction ofthe arrow 13, the roll 5 which it embraces over a certain -arc and, then, passes along a path of travel successively around the rolls 7-2 8-3-9-4-6 while embracing them substantially over 'an arc of the same extent. v

After having efiected thiscomplete turn or circuit within the enclosure, the fabrie arrives in the direction of the arrow 14 converging with the direction ofarrow 13 back at the first roll 5 around which it passes while forming a new layer. Then, the fabric again passes successively on the rolls 7-2-8-3-9-4-6 so as to accomplish a second complete circuit within the enclosure.

In this manner, it is possible to cause the fabric to travel any number of circuits corresponding to the length of time during which the fabric should dwell within the enclosure. t

The last circuit is completed around the roll 8 whence the fabric passes, in the direction of the arrow 15, onto a bar 16 outwardly of the outer polygon and then leaves the enclosure as indicated at 17 through a slot 70.

It should be noted that, in its path in the interior of the enclosure, the fabric forms on the individual rolls, layers positioned alternately above and under the layer precedingly formed on the same rolls so that the length of each circuit involving all the rolls, or at least all the rolls arranged between the entrance to and the exit fror'n the enclosure, is substantially uniform.

This essential feature of the invention is represented 'more in detail in Fig. 2 which diagrammatcally shows three fabric layers on the rolls 5 and `7. The first layer arriving in the direction of the arrow 13 of Fig. 1, is represented as at a It embraces the roll 5 over an are d --e -f and, then, forms on the roll 7 the layer a; which embraces this roll over an arc d --e --f Then the fabric passes' 2 8- 3 -9-4-6 (Fig. 1) hd returns' in thdi'ection of the arrow 14 back to the roll 5 on which it forms a second layer b positioned on top of the layer a previou'sly formed. 'After'havingembraced the 'roll 5 over the samearc, d -e --f the ,fabric passes around the roll 7 but in such manner that the'layer bg, which, it forms .on this roll and which also extends overthe arc d e -f metrically 'arranged' either above or under ta mean `position or layer. Consequently i f the number of therolls successively around the rolls as well as their arrangement and their dimensions are suitably predete'mined,` all thefindividual circuitstr'avelled by the fabric within the enclosure will havesubstantially the same length.

i In thefdevice of Fig. 1, this. result is obtained by using eight rolls of the same diameter arranged in such nanner that the fabric forms thereon, upon each crcuit travelled around all the rolls, layers passing' under the layers prejviouslyjformed on four rolls andlayers passing above the' layers previously forn'ed on *the other` four rolls, 'while all the'layers 'embrace thefparticular roll substantially over an are of uniform angular ex tent;

As hereinabove set forth,}si rce 'all the paths travelled by the fabricfwithin the enclosure have' substantially the same length, it is possible to have the fabric repeatedly travel as many circuits as dsired without being subjected to any material tension;

Inside the enclosure 1 may be arrauged accessory devices, 'according to the treatment contemplated. Thus,

for instanca, when the enclosure is intended to receive a 'fabric'undergoing a' steamingtreatment, heat exchangers 18 and' 19 as well as foraminous pipes -20 for 'directly discharging steam may be arranged within said erclosure.

Figl 3 diagra'mmatically shows` an enclosure according to the iuvention incorporated in a dyeing installation. Thdfabric fed as at 23 is first mpregnated in a vat 25 with-"a suitable dyeing liquid and thensqueezedbetween squeeze' rolls 24. The squeezed fabric 23a, then, is-passed t throughatreating'machine 21 of known Construction in which it is'exposed by nozzle assenblies 22 to the action of atreating fluid, such as' superheated or saturated steam,

4 hot'ai'r or other; From themachine 21 the fabric directly enters the enclosure 1 constructed according to the invention ashereinabove referred .to in Fig.x1 in which it s effects the required number of crc'uits, corresponding to the lengthrof time the fabric should stay in the enclosure. Now, the fabric which leaves the enclosure in the direction indicated at 26 to be reeled on a roll 27. Alter nativelyg the fabric-leaving the enclosure'can be passed in directionza where' by means of` mechanical folder 28 it is` deposited inifolds 29 on a carriage 30, as shown in Fig. 3a.

Fig. 4 diagrammatically shows a modification wherein V xthe rolls on whichthet'abric forms layers under layers previouslyformediare difierent, in their number and in stheir dimensions, ;from .the rolls on .which the fabric zforrrs'layers above layers previously formecl. Thus, the

fabric 31 passes ona 'bar-32 and reaches, in the direction of the arrow 33 ontoarroll. 34 which it ,embraces over the 'are :NOP and-thenpass'es inthe direction of the arrow .35around a roll 36 which is embraces over the arc ABC.

Themthe fabric passes successively .around the rolls 37,

38,39, ;40 which itembraces overthe ,arcs DEF, QRS,

GHI, and KLM respectively. i ,v

After havingthu travelled a complete circuit l he i 4" i: a enclosure, the fabric again passes around the roll 34 in the direction of'the'arrow'"41,`and` then'around the' rolls 36, 37, 38, 39, 40 as manytimes as it is desired. Finally, the fabric passes from the roller 37, in the direction of the arrow 42, onto a roll 43 the axis of which is positioned substantially parallel with the axis of the rolls and then on a bar 44 arranged in an oblique direction with respect to the axis of the rolls and leaves the enclosure in the direction of the arrow 45.

As will beseen from 4, thefabric passes around the rolls 34 and 38, on top of layers previously formed,

whereas it passes on the rolls 36, 37, 39, 49 underneath length-of all -the paths, itis necessary that the sum of the arcs emhraced on the rolls where the fabric forms layers under the previous layers be equal to the sum of the arcs emhraced on `the rolls where thefabric forms layers on top of the previous layers. In other words, the rolls should be dimensioned and arranged in suchmanner that there is obtained: r

4 Fig. 5 shows a further modification with. an asymmetrical arrangement of the rolls on which the' fabric forms layers above and undemeath the respective layers previously formed. v

The fabric is run in the ,direction of the arrow 46 and passes .on "the deviation 'bars 47 and 48 which impart thereto a'suitable ingress direction which enables it to pass around the first accumulation roll 50 in the direction of the ,arrow 49; After having emhraced the roll 50 over a certain arc, the fabric passes .in the direction of the arrow 51 successively around'the rolls 52, 53, 54, 55.

From the .rol1-55,-the fabric passes in the direction of the arrow 56 successivelyaround the rolls 57, 58, 59, 60 and 61. After having thus eifected a 'complete circuit within the enclosure, the fabric runs, in the direction of the arrow 62 around the roll 50 and travels a new circuit within the enclosure. This process may take, place repeatedly as many times as it is desired.-'

When, the total length of travel, 'which corresponds to the lengthof time thefabric 'stays withinthe enclosure, is reached, ,said fabric leaves the enclosurefrom the roll 55, in the direction-of the arrow `63, passes around the deviation bars 64 and 65 in order ultimately to runout of the enclosure in the direction of the arrow 66. v

t In the arrangement of this Fig. 5, the fahricforms, in the course of its multiple travels within the enclosure, layers on top of the layers previously formed on the rolls 52, 54, 55, 57,'58 and 60and layers underneath the layers previously formed on the rolls 50, 53, 59 and 61.

According to the invention, here again the arrangement i is such that the sum of the arcs emhraced by the fabric over the rolls 52, 54, 55, 57, 58, 60 is equal to the sum of the arcs emhraced over the rolls 50, 53, 59, 61. Furthermore, the sum 'of the arcs emhraced over the'rolls 52, 54, 55,' is equal to that of the arcs emhraced over the 'rolls 50, 53. This condition is concerned with the partial travel between entrance and exit for the fabric.

It should' be noted .that'these requirements may be full filled, regardless of the :difference in the diametersof companying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. Thus, one or more rolls may be provided with means for regulating the tension of the fabric.

Furthermore, the enclosure according to the invention may be utilized for receiving fabric subjected to any trentment, during any length of time. It may also be combined wtih other treating machines and provided With any accessory devices corresponding to the particular treatment involved.

As it appears from the above, the enclosure embodying the invention has among others, the following advantages:

It is able to receive a great length of fabric within small overall dimensions and during any length of time;

The fabric may be accumulated in open width and without material tension;

The accumulation of fabric is carried out in a continuous manner which makes it possible readily to com bine the enclosure with treating machines Operating in a continuous manner.

Various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention and it is intended that such obvious changes and modifications be embraced by the anneXed claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is:

1. A plant for treating a continuous web adapted to pass along at least a first and a second circuit in superposed position to each other; comprising a first set of rolls having a first set of spaced apart axes of rotation defining an outer polygon, a second set of rolls having a second set of spaced apart axes of rotation and having the outer peripheral tangents to said second set of rolls defining an inner polygen spaced nwardly of said first set of rolls, said axes of rotation of said first and second sets of rolls being parallel to each other, said first set of rolls being rotatable in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of said second set of rolls, said web being adapted to be trained over both sets of said rolls thereby engaging successively at least one roll of said first set of rolls and then at least one roll of said second set of rolls, whereby said first circuit of web directly contacts a portion of the surface of said one roll of said first set of rolls and said second circuit of web directly contacts a portion of the surface of said one roll of said second set of rolls, means for feeding said web to said first and second sets of rolls, successively, and including a first bar located substantially within said nner polygon and having an axis substantially normal to said first set of axes and a second bar located substantially within said inner polygon and extending parallel to said second set of axes, the center of contact of the web with respect to said one roll of said first set of rolls being located at one side of the axis of rotation of the latter, the center of contact of said web with respect to said second set of rolls being disposed at an opposite side of the axis of rotation of said one roll of said second set of rolls, whereby said first circuit of web spaces the second circuit of web from at least said one roll of said first set of rolls and said second circuit spaces said first circuit from said one roll of said second set of rolls, so that said first set of rolls tensions said first circuit an extent subtantially equal to that of tension caused by said second circuit fed onto said second set of rolls, and delivery means including a third bar disposed outwardly of said outer polygon and extending substantially normal to said first set of axes.

2. A plant as defined in claim 1, wherein all of said rolls are equal in diameter.

3. A plant according to claim 1, including enclosurc means for both said sets of rolls, and stean discharging means located in said enclosure means for steam treating said circuits of web.

4. A plant as defined in claim 1, comprising enclosure means accommodating said first and second sets of rolls, said web feeding means, and said web delivery means.

5. A plant for treating a continuous web adapted to pass along at least a first and a second circuit in superposed position to each other; comprising a first set of rolls having a first set of spaced apart axes of rotation defining an outer polygon, a second set of rolls having a second set of spaced apart axes of rotation spaced in wardly from said outer polygon, said axes of rotation of said first and second sets of rolls being parallel to each other, said first set of rolls being rotatable in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of said second set of rolls, said web being adapted to be trained over both sets of said rolls thereby engaging successively at least one roll of said first set of rolls and then at least one roll of said second set of rolls, whereby said first circuit of Web directly contacts a portion of the surface of said one roll of said first set of rolls and said second circuit of web directly contacts a portion of the surface of said one roll of said second set of rolls, means for feeding said web to said first and second sets of rolls, successively, and including a first bar located within said outer polygon and having an axis substantially normal to said first set 'of axes and a second bar located within said outer polygon and extending parallel to said second set of axes, the center of contact of the web with respect to said one roll of said first set of rolls being located at one side of the axis of rotation of the latter, the center of contact of said web with respect to said second set of rolls being disposed at an opposite side of the axis of rotation of said one roll of said second set of rolls, whereby said first circuit of web spaces the second circuit of web from at least said one roll of said first set of rolls and said second circuit spaces said first circuit from said one roll of said second set of rolls, so that said first set of rolls tensions said first circuit an extent substantially equal to that of tension caused by said second circuit fed onto said second set of rolls, and delivery means including a thrd bar disposed outwardly of said outer polygon and extending substantially normal to said first set of axes.

6. A plant as defined in claim 5, wherein the rolls about which the first circuit passes over the second circuit are different in diameter from the rolls about which the first web circuit passes below the second circuit.

7. A plant as defined in claim 5, said first set of rolls being of lesser diameter than that of said second set of rolls.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,626,439 Voegel Apr. 26, 1927 2,161,726 Sochor June 6, 1939 2,344,942 Gessner Mar. 28, 1944 2,366,l00 Green Dec. 26, 1944 2,505,657 Wentz Apr. 25, 1950 2,545,075 Dungler Mar. 13, 1951 2,590,407 Haas Mar. 25, 1952 FOREIGN 'PATENTS 169922 Germany Apr. 23, 1906 

